Efforts ongoing to recover missing persons abroad, Iraq’s deputy foreign minister says

BAGHDAD – Iraq is continuing efforts to recover missing and abducted persons from abroad, Deputy Foreign Minister Hisham al-Alawi said Monday, noting that around 3,000 people from different communities remain outside the country.

“In the past ten years, we succeeded in recovering a number of wanted individuals and bringing them before the judiciary, in addition to recovering a number of abducted and missing children, girls, and women who were outside Iraq,” al-Alawi told the state news agency.

He said approximate figures point to about 3,000 people still missing, including Yazidis, Turkmen, and Christians. “This includes children, women, and girls,” he added.

Al-Alawi explained that Iraq is cooperating with domestic agencies, the International Commission on Missing Persons, Interpol, and states where missing Iraqis are believed to be located. “Dozens of missing persons have been returned in past years from different categories—children, women, and girls. This process is important and must continue because many families are still searching for their loved ones,” he said.

He also noted that in recent months Iraq has secured the return of individuals wanted on financial corruption charges. “Iraq has agreements with several countries regarding the extradition of wanted persons and defendants, and we work through Interpol mechanisms by submitting complete files after rulings are issued by Iraqi courts. We will continue these efforts,” al-Alawi said.

Since ISIS abducted thousands of Yazidis during its 2014 assault on Sinjar, official figures indicate that about 6,400 people were kidnapped, mostly women and children. Of these, roughly 3,584 have been rescued or escaped, while around 2,600 remain missing, according to recent data.